Damaged it. Tore my feet up with some ill-fitting new workboots, during weeks of 18hr days packing and moving my folks out of CA. Treated it, insufficiently, infection became MRSA and rapidly worsened. Went from weeks of slightly red to suddenly swollen and necrotic in just 72hrs, MRSA, bone at the tip infected, foot starting to redden. ER, hospitalized, couple kinds of IV antibiotics. 48hrs later it was 'have to take your toe to save your foot - or worse.' and off that little piggy went to market. Took the whole toe, 2nd and 3rd bones ok, but flesh destroyed. So whole toe.
Surprisingly pain free and so far the protective sandal / overboot is more of a hindrance to my walking than the lack of the 2nd toe.
/It's a good thing I can still count to 20 without it, or I'd be in real trouble
In seriousness, been dealing with Type 2 diabetes for several years, I'd thought effectively. I've lost a lot of weight but that isn't enough, eat better, very active, but it wasn't enough. Left leg problems started about 10yrs ago when I lacerated both shins removing some aluminum siding from our mountain house. Left shin got terribly infected multiple times. MRSA, MRSA, MSSA, Pseudomonas. Wrecked the shin and my circulation, much like a 3rd degree burn, patch the size of your spread hand on the shin. Been wearing a compression sock on that scar tissue / foot for years. Wear a shin guard on that leg whenever I'm doing something that might injure my shin.
Have had slow healing despite good peripheral circulation in that left lower leg ever since. Rest of me heals just fine. So wore / tore some skin and callouses off my feet, tip of the toe look a long time and wound up infected.
Already tossed the boots and the next pair will damned sure fit better. I've got a lot of home remodeling and furniture making to do in the next couple years.
